Coupling device for connecting a medical therapy device to a supply

ABSTRACT

A coupling device connects a medical therapy device, such as a therapy cushion, to a supply device. The coupling device includes a coupling part connected to a double hose line and a counter-coupling complimentarily designed to attach to the coupling part and fitted on the supply device. The coupling device further includes a plurality of shut-off valves that, by step-wise movement between the coupling part and counter coupling, selectively open flow paths for supply of different amounts of fluid per unit of time.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for regulating the temperature ofskin parts of the human body comprising a cushion which can be put onthe body and which comprises a liquid channel system having an inletopening and an outlet opening, a forward flow line connected to theinlet opening, a return flow line connected to the outlet opening,further comprising a supply device provided with a heat-insulated boxcomprising a cover and a pump connected at it's suction side to theinterior of the box, and a supply connection connected to the pump, thesupply connection connectable to the forward flow line and meansconnecting the return flow line to the box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Devices of this kind are known from the WO 95/10251, EP-0039443, U.S.Pat. No. 5,411,541, U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,939, U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,033,DE-3505274. Disadvantageous in the published suggestions is the fact,that only one therapy cushion can be connected with the supply device.In practice there is an urgent need to treat several distanced skinsurfaces of the patients with heat and/or cold at the same time.According to the state of the art each cushion would afford an ownsupply device. Another possibility would be a common forward flow lineand a common return flow line for a plurality of cushions with built-inT-junctions. The disadvantage of this possibility would be the fact,that the individual cushions cannot be regulated individually.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Main object of the invention is to provide a temperature regulatingdevice of the kind mentioned at the beginning, whereby several therapycushions can be operated by one supply device with temperature regulatedliquid and nevertheless individual supply of the cushions withtemperature regulated liquid should be possible.

According to an embodiment of the invention the shut-off valves aredesigned as metering valves, which are assigned to the forward flowlines. The respective shut-off valves can be opened sensitively orcontinuously, thus the individual cushions can be supplied withdifferent amounts of heat or cold per unit of time. Thereby a differingtemperature adjustment for the cushions is indirectly possible.Preferably in the peripheral area of the box the cover of the supplydevice provides a number of openings equal to the number of supplyconnections, whereby the openings each show a cross-section minimumequal to the outer cross-section of the return flow lines, so that thereturn flow lines are easily insertable into the box via the openings.The return flow lines then empty off directly into the box.

As an alternative solution within the bounds of the invention theshut-off valves during coupling of the foward flow lines are designed asautomatically opening check valves.

An important development of the invention is, that the liquid channelsystems of the several cushions show flow resistances, which are atleast nearly proportional to the surfaces of the cushions. Thereby it ismanaged that in small cushions--i.e. nose- or cheek-cushions--the flowcross-sections are smaller than in large surface cushions--i.e. tighbandages--thus also the liquid flow rates are at least nearlyproportional to the respective cushion sizes.

The invention furthermore provides a coupling device for connecting acoupling part of a double hose line, comprising an inner and an outerhose, with a supply connection. These coupling devices are especiallyadvantageous for connecting the therapy cushions, because each cushiononly affords one coupling device which connects the forward flow line aswell as the return flow line with the supply device, thus a falseconnection of the lines is avoided. This coupling device can also beused for the connection of a cushion with the forward and return flowlines, so that double hose lines of differing length can be used, and itis also possible to connect double hose lines with one another or withdevices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in detail for instance in connection with thedrawings:

FIG.1 is a view on a supply device with several simultaneously connectedcushions, which are connected to the supply device via separate forwardand return flow lines,

FIG. 2 is a view on several smaller cushions at the head of a patient,with the forward flow lines being led coaxially in the return flowlines, so that each cushion can be connected to the supply device via asole double hose line,

FIG. 3 shows a supply device according to the embodiment of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 shows a coupling device, which is used with a supply device forcushions with coaxial in- and outlet openings according to FIG. 2,

FIGS. 5-7 show parts of the coupling device according to FIG. 4,

FIG. 8 shows the coupling device according to FIG. 4 in uncoupled state,whereby the shut-off valves of the coupling parts are in closedpositions,

FIG. 9 shows the coupling device according to FIG. 4 in a partly coupledstate, whereby individual valves are opened, but at least one main valveis closed,

FIG. 10 shows the coupling device in completely coupled state, wherebyall valves are open,

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the cover of the supply device with fivesupply connections,

FIG. 12 is a side view of the cover according to FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cover along line13--13 of FIG. 11,

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cover along line14--14 of FIG. 11,

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of an insert fixed to the inside of the coverand

FIG. 16 is a explosive representation of the mounting parts for thesupply chamber, which are fixed at the cover of the supply device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device for temperature regulation of skin parts comprises severalcushions 1, each of them comprising a liquid channel system 2 with aninlet opening 3 and an outlet opening 4 as well as a forward flow line 5and a return flow line 6. According to FIG. 1 the forward and returnflow lines 5, 6 are connected separately to a supply device 114. In theembodiment according to FIG. 2 the forward and return flow lines 5, 6are coaxially arranged and form a double hose 20 (FIG.4).

The forward and return flow lines 5, 6 can be detachably put onrespective connection fittings of the cushions 1 or can be connected fixto the cushion.

According to FIG. 3 the supply device 114 comprises a box 115 with opentop, which is heat-insulated at the outside and is closed by a cover 90of the supply device. In the peripheral area the cover of the box 115provides several holes 8, via which the return flow lines 6 of thecushions can be inserted through the cover, so that they can directlyempty into the box 115. At the bottom side of the cover 90 a supplychamber 96 is formed with supply connections with built-in shut-offvalves 7 projecting at the top. The supply chamber 96 is connected to anelectrical submergible pump 119 via a connection hose 117, the pump isarranged in the box 115. The bottom side of the box 115 comprises aheating coil, which is operated electrically. Further a cooling coil 11is provided, which here is only shown at one wall of the box 115, butpreferably is arranged at several walls. The supply device 114 furthercomprises a temperature sensor 13 at the inside of the box 115, anadjustable thermostat 15, an electric supply 17 for charging a storagebattery arranged in the supply device 114 outside the box 115 as well asswitches 19 and 21 respectively for switching on and off the heating andcooling devices. Outside the box 115 the supply device 114 comprises arefrigerator, which is not shown here and either consists ofthermoelectric cells or a mechanical refrigerating machine.

FIG. 3 shows a cushion connected to a supply device 114 via a forwardand a return flow line 5, 6. The shut-off valve 7 in the supplyconnection assigned to the forward flow line 5 is completely opened. Theother shut-off valves 7 of the supply connections are closed. It ispossible to connect another therapy cushion 1 to the supply device 114without interrupting the temperature regulation operation for thealready connected cushion. It is only necessary to insert the returnflow line 6 of the additional cushion 1 into a hole 8 of the cover 90and to put the forward flow line 5 on a free supply connection and thenopen it by using the shut-off valve 7. Depending on the size of therespective connected cushion the shut-off valve is opened more or less.Due to the metering function of the shut-off valves the flow rates inthe respective cushions 1 can be chosen individually.

The coupling device 10 shown in the FIGS. 4-16 is especially userfriendly, because with only one coupling action the forward flow line 5as well as the return flow line 6 can be connected to the supply device114, whereby simultaneously the shut-off valves in the supply connection14 as well as in the coupling part 12 of the double hose 20 are opened.In an uncoupled state of the coupling device 10 these shut-off valvesare closed, thus the liquid can neither run out of the supply connection14 nor out of the coupling part 12. This coupling device 10 isextraordinarily safe, prevents the exchange of the forward and returnflow lines 5, 6 and can--according to one embodiment--also be used forother applications, i.e. for forwarding and returning of the patients'blood during dialysis.

The coupling device 10 consists of the coupling part 12 and the supplyconnection 14. The coupling part 12 has a head 16 and a bottom 18. Thehead 16 comprises a flanged bushing, wherein a outer hose 22 of a doublehose 20 is sealingly haltered by a clamping socket 26. An inner hose 24penetrates the clamping socket 26 with radial distance. The forward flowline 5 (FIG. 2) is formed by the inner hose 24. The return flow line 6is formed within the annular chamber between outer hose 22 and innerhose 24. The bottom 18 has a coaxial central chamber 28 and twoadditional cylindrical chambers 30 with smaller cross-sections, whichare diametrically offset one from another and from the main axis. In allthree chambers 28, 30 there are arranged shut-off valves, which comprisevalve bodies 32 resp. 36 and springs 34 resp. 38. Both springs aresupported at their backsides at supporting bodies 40 resp. 42 with ringsof ports. A flanged bushing 44 is pressed into the tops of the centralchambers 28 and the inner hose 24 sits thereon. Due to the duality ofthe coupling part 12 mounting of the double hose 20 is very easy,because the outer hose 22 is sealingly clamped in the head 16 and theinner hose 24 is extracted a bit from the outer hose 22 before mountingof the parts, what becomes possible due to it's spiral hose embodimentand then is put onto the flanged bushing 44 and gets centered viapushing together the head 16 and the bottom 18.

The bottom 18 has an upper circular cylindrical peripheral surface 46,which forms a clamping fit together with the inner peripheral surface 48of the head. After compressing both parts 16, 18 the coupling part 12 issealed.

Just about in a central region the bottom 18 comprises an outer annularflange 50 joined by a lower peripheral surface 52 with an elliptic oroval contour. This peripheral surface 52 is closed by an end face 54, sothat it shows a pot-like construction. The three chambers 28, 30comprise orifices in this end face 54, which are constructed as valveseats for the valve bodies 32, 36. An O-ring 56 is arranged near thebottom end of this peripheral surface 52.

The supply connection 14 is formed as a counter coupling with a circularcylindrical outer surface 58 and locking projections 60 radiallyassociated in outward direction and extending in upward direction.Inside the supply connection 14 is a cylindrical recess with aperipheral surface 62, which is complementary to the outer peripheralsurface 52 of the bottom 18 of the coupling part 12. In the embodimentthis recess has an elliptic contour. This recess ends in an end face 64,at which a central channel 68 arranged in a tube 66 as well as twoadditional radially diametrically offset channels 70 formed as rings ofports do open. The central channel 68 comprises a valve body 72 with asealing ring and a spring 74, which parts form a shut-off valve. Theorifice of the central channel 68 in the end face 64 is surrounded by anopen annular groove, wherein an O-ring 76 is inserted. From a valve body72 a tappet 78 projects coaxially upward into a cavitiy surrounded bythe peripheral surface 62. Both valve bodies 36 of the coupling part 12comprise downwardly directed tappets 80.

In an uncoupled position according to FIG. 8 the shut-off valves in thecoupling part 12 and in the supply connection 14 are closed. When thecoupling part 12 is inserted into the supply connection, whereby due tothe elliptic peripheral surfaces 52, 62 only two defined angle positionsdo exist, the O-ring 56 at the coupling part 12 at first seals theelliptically shaped chamber of the supply connection 14. During furtherinserting at the coupling part, the tappets 80 contact the end face 64and the tappet 78 slides into a frontside feed hole of the valve body32. An additional short slide stroke of the coupling part 12 causes theshut-off valves to open ba means of the valve bodies 32, 36 of thecoupling part 12. This state is shown in FIG. 9. During this theperipheral flange 50 maps into a first locking step of the upwardlocking projections 60. Because of the spring 74 in the central channel68 of the supply connection 14 being stronger than the spring 34 in thecentral chamber 28 of the coupling part 12, the valve body 72 in thecentral channel 68 remains in closed position and the valve body 32 inthe central chamber 28 of the coupling part 12 supports itself at a liftstop tappet 84. Liquid now can run out from the inner hose 24 and theannular chamber between inner hose 24 and outer hose 22 via the channels70. Caused by further inserting of the coupling part 12 the valve body72 is lifted from the valve seat, so that the pressurized liquid canflow through the central channel 68 of the supply connection 14 into thecentral chamber 28 of the coupling part 12. In coupling position theflange 50 maps into a second locking step 86 at the upward lockingprojections 60. This position is shown in FIG. 10. The central chamber28 is axially aligned with the central channel 68 in the main axis ofthe coupling device and both additional chambers 30 in the coupling part12 are also axially aligned with the additional channels 70.

As shown by the FIGS. 11-16 the supply device 114 has a cover 90, intowhich five supply connections 14 are inserted from outside and from thebottom of the cover 90 an insert 92 is fixed with an inlayed roundaboutseal at the frontside, comprising a plurality of bores 94, into whichthe tubes 66 of the five supply connections 14 sealingly project due toinlayed O-rings. The five bores 94 are connected to a bottomside groovesystem forming a supply chamber 96, which is communicating with acentral hose connection 98 screwn onto a cover plate 100, which isclosing the supply chamber 96 in the insert 92. The supply chamber 96comprises a branch groove 102, which is leading to a chamber 104communicating with a safety valve 106, which is haltered in the coverplate 100. The insert 92 comprises a pocket 108 at the side assigned tothe cover 90, which is covering all five supply connections 14 and inwhich the channels 70 of the supply connections 14 can freely discharge.A hose fitting 112 projecting a respective bore in the coverplate 100 isscrewed into a draining bore 110 of the insert 92.

FIG. 14 shows, that the insert 92 is fixed to the cover 90 via two longscrews at each of the five supply connections 14 and the cover plate 100is screwed to the insert 92 via six shorter edge screws. A hose 117coming from the pressure side of the pump 119 is connected to thecentral connection 98 and a respective hose, which is stuck on thefitting 112 leads back to the box 115.

In the drawings the supply connections 14 are shown with simpledischarge channels 70, because these can discharge into the commonpocket 108 in the insert 92. It is understood that the supply connection14 can also be embodied according to the coupling part 12 for theconnection with a double hose 20. In this embodiment the supplyconnection 14 also comprises a head 16 and a bottom 18 and instead ofthe channels 70 there are valve chambers 30 as in the coupling part 12.After drawing off the coupling part 12 from the supply connection 14 theadditional shut-off valves in the supply connection close, so that noliquid can discharge from both double hoses 20, to be connected.

The inventory coupling device makes possible, that the coupling part 12can be drawn off the supply connection 14, whereby the shut-off valvesclose automatically before the sealing between both coupling parts isreleased. When, according to the embodiment, the supply connection islocated in the cover 90 of the supply device 114, the remaining liquidcan discharge from the supply connection into the box 115, thus noliquid gets lost. Opening of the shut-off valves is only effected whenthe coupling part 12 is in it's defined coupling position. Misoperationsare prevented. The shut-off valve in the supply connection 14 is openedduring the last step of the inserting movement of the coupling part 12.Due to that a two-step-operation is carried out that way, that in thefirst coupling step both coupling parts 12, 14 are tightly connected toone another and the shut-off valves in the coupling part 12 are opened,so that a discharging of the forward and return flow lines 5, 6inclusive the stock water in the cushion 1 is possible. Then, in thefollowing second coupling step, the pressurized supply chamber 96 isconnected to the forward flow line 5.

The not circular form of the coupling device facilitates a modificationto the embodiment shown in the drawings, comprising two chambers 28, 30of same size in the different halves of the coupling part 12. Theembodiment shown with a central chamber 28 and two smaller side chambers30 in the coupling part 12 also makes possible a circular cylindricalshape of the peripheral sufaces of the coupling part 12 and the supplyconnection 14 just like that. Then it is advantageous to have a axialalignment of the coupling part 12 in the supply connection 14, i.e. viaaxial ribs and grooves, so that the coupling motion is only possible inone or at most two turning positions which have to be spaced by 180°. Atthe end of the inserting motion the axial alignment should beneutralized, so that the coupling part 12 can be rotated into the finalcoupling position for i.e. 45° or 90°. Due to this at the same time thecoupling parts are interlocked and it is ensured that the couplingposition is really reached. This rotational movement of the couplingpart 12 can be effected on a helical path with little pitch, so that thecoupling parts are haltered together with sufficiently high axialtightening force.

I claim:
 1. A coupling device for connecting a medical therapy device toa supply device, comprising a coupling part connected to a first linehaving an inner hose and an outer hose and a counter-coupling connectedto a second line, the coupling part featuring a geometrical main axis,the coupling part having a first cylindrical peripheral surface at aleading end thereof and the counter-coupling having a second peripheralsurface complementarily designed to the first peripheral surface and anO-ring arranged at one of the peripheral surfaces, the coupling partcomprising at least two cylindrical chambers, said chambers having axesparallel with the main axis and provided with openings at one end faceof the coupling part respectively, one of the chambers connected to theinner hose of the first line and the at least one further chamberconnected to an annular chamber formed between the inner hose and theouter hose, the counter-coupling having at least two channels arrangedparallel with the main axis and in the coupling position of the couplingpart communicating with one of the chambers of the coupling partrespectively via flow paths sealed one against another, thecounter-coupling having a second end face perpendicular to the secondperipheral surface thereof, the channels having openings at the secondend face, the openings of the channels being coaxial to the openings ofthe chambers of the coupling part in the coupling position thereof, anda second O-ring arranged at one of the end faces of the coupling partand the counter-coupling surrounding the respective opening and in thecoupling position being in contact with the respective other one of theend faces of the coupling part and the counter-coupling, a shut-offvalve arranged in at least one of the channels of the counter-coupling,the shut-off valve comprising a valve body and a spring pre-stressingthe valve body into a closed position thereof, a first tappet providedat one part comprising the coupling part and the valve body of thecounter-coupling, the tappet in the coupling position of the couplingpart resting on the other one of these parts respectively and holdingthe valve body in an open position, a spring-actuated second shut-offvalve arranged in each one of said chambers, the second shut-off valvecomprising a second valve body which in release position of the couplingpart closing the opening of the respective chamber, a second tappetoriented parallel with the main axis assigned to the second valve body,the second tappet in the coupling position of the coupling part beingsupported at the counter-coupling and holding the respective shut-offvalve of the chamber in an open position, so that a three-step insertingmode of the coupling part is achieved, whereby firstly the inner spacesof the coupling part and of the counter-coupling are sealed against thesurrounding, then the shut-off valves of the chambers are opened and atlast the shut-off valve provided in the at least one channel of thecounter-coupling is opened.
 2. A coupling device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the first tappet is arranged at the valve body of the firstshut-off valve provided in the at least one channel and projects axiallyin the direction of the valve body of the second shut-off valve in oneof the chambers of the coupling part, wherein lift stop means areprovided for at least one of the valve bodies and wherein during thecoupling action of the coupling part the tappet opens the secondshut-off valve in the chamber and presses the valve body of the secondshut-off valve against the lift stop means and thereafter moves thevalve body of the first shut-off valve of the counter-coupling in anopen position, whereby the springs for both valve bodies are differingin strength and the weaker spring is assigned to the second shut-offvalve provided with the lift stop means.
 3. A coupling device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the peripheral surfaces of the coupling part and thecounter-coupling have non-circular contours comprising oval and ellipticforms.
 4. A coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein both chambersand the channels axially aligned with them respectively have at leastapproximately equal cross-sections respectively and are arranged indifferent halves of the coupling part and the counter-coupling.
 5. Acoupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one chamber of thecoupling part and one channel of the counter-coupling are coaxiallyarranged to the main axis respectively and wherein the coupling part hasat least two further chambers having smaller cross-sections and parallelaxes, the axes having equal spacings from the main axis and beingcircumferentially offset one from another.
 6. A coupling device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein one shut-off valve is assigned to eachopening of all chambers and to each opening of all channels respectivelyand wherein the spring powers of the springs for the valve bodies of theshut-off valves are selected with respect to one another such that astepwise coupling action takes place and whereby in an intermediateposition of the coupling part, in which the adjacent end faces of thecoupling part and the counter-coupling are spaced one from another, atleast one chamber of the coupling part communicates with a channel ofthe counter-coupling while another chamber of the coupling part isshut-off from the channel assigned to it.
 7. A coupling device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein a supply chamber is formed in an insert ofthe supply device at the inside of an outer wall comprising the cover,wherein a plurality of counter-couplings are connected to the supplychamber, a plurality of parallel bores are provided in the insert, atube centrally arranged at each counter-coupling tightly projects intothe bores respectively and contains one of the channels with the firstshut-off valves respectively, wherein all bores are connected to acommon hose connection provided at the inside of the insert by a channelsystem formed in the insert, whereby the channel system forms the supplychamber, wherein the insert has a flat pocket (108) at it's side facingthe outer wall, the tubes of the counter-coupling leading through theflat pocket, and all channels of the counter-coupling but without thosechannels provided in the tubes freely open in the pocket, and wherein adraining bore extends through the insert and opens in the pocket.